<p>I've always had A's in algebra, geometry, and precalculus, and I'm going to be in AP Calculus AB next year. Math isn't exactly my strongest point, but it certainly isn't a weak point of mine, so this is where my dilemma lies... I have the option of taking Physics Honors and AP Chemistry, but seeing as the AP Chem teacher is nuts, I'm planning on not taking that class, which would leave me with Physics Honors. Now, while most of my friends will be taking AP Chem, I don't want my GPA to fall behind, so I was considering taking AP Physics B instead of physics honors. Does it sound like a good idea or will I struggle to manage to get A's since I have barely no physics background?</p>
<p>i dont have any physics background and im taking ap physics B next year</p>
<p>you should be fine. I struggled with honors physics because I wasn't used to thinking in a different way. AP is pretty fast-paced so my only piece of advice is don't rely on your math knowledge to do well in the class. The math is pretty basic but the problem-solving may be unfamiliar. Just be prepared to work hard.</p>
<p>Nobody at my school who takes AP Physics B has any physics background. I took it and was fine.</p>
<p>Well, it really depends. I am taking Physics Honors this year and even though I am a beast at math, that class is still very hard. I am not discouraging you from taking it but I am just advising you that you will be working very, very hard and you'll probably have to spend extra time. Also, a lot of the material in Physics B is taught in Physics Honors. The only difference -well, the main one, at least - is that Physics Honors is moderately paced while Physics B is very accelerated. They move at very fast speeds because the course entails many different topics.</p>
<p>thats blatently not true. physics math is very complex for high school levels</p>
<p>If you're going to be in calculus, then don't stress over the math. It's very manageable, and doesn't really go past trig (in the B exam, at least). You will be able to handle Physics B with no prior physics knowledge, and if you're that concerned, go over some stuff before school starts. I don't think of myself as really smart, and I'm self-studying for that exam with no prior knowledge. So far, so good...</p>
<p>i have the same worrry
i am going to be a junior next year and i want to take AP Chem so i was just thinking of jumping into AP physics in senior year along with 4 other APs in that year.
so now im thinking if i should take Honrs Physics my junior year to get some background info.? any thoughts?</p>
<p>@Paki- You know your strengths and weaknesses obviously but I wouldn't recommend taking physics honors before AP Physics. As long as you know basic trig rules dealing with sin, cos, tan, you should be fine, I believe. I remember in my AP Physics B class there were four juniors in a class of 15, 1 of whom dropped out after first semester because he got a C+ and the other stuck to it and got B+'s and A's. And the class was taught like an AP class so it wasn't like it was an easy class or anything. Oh, and they were taking pre-calc while in that class so if they could do it, then I don't see why you can't.</p>
<p>thanks man,
but can you tell me why you would not recommend it? wouldnt it just prepare you more for AP?
and you are suggesting that I should just take AP physics in senior year after completing trig my junior year? that sounds reasonable.</p>
<p>The reason not to take an honors course, while it would prepare you, is that it's a waste of time if you plan on taking the AP. </p>
<p>It's like taking the normal class in a subject to prepare for the honors version of that subject. While it certainly would make things easier in the honors course, why waste a year when you can just jump right in?</p>
<p>And like I mentioned earlier, if you're concerned, do some prepping in the summer. Teach yourself vectors, velocity, and acceleration in one and two dimensions (all easy stuff), and you'll be month ahead. :)</p>
<p>Some colleges don't accept Physics B, keep that in mind.</p>
<p>I'm one of 5 juniors taking Physics B (with no physics Honors background) in a class full of seniors who have already taken physics honors. At least in my case, I see absolutely no correlation to having previous background and success in the class... In fact, the juniors consistently score higher on tests...</p>
<p>I agree with paki, as long as you understand your trig functions - go for the AP class</p>
<p>marimare, can u elaborate on your previous post (#12)?</p>
<p>Well, you guys do have a point.
so according to you guys i should take physics out my schedule? </p>
<p>-AP Eng. Lang (not sure if i should take this or stick with regular)
- Acc. Trig
- AP Chem (i need some advice for this class)
- Reg or Honors Physics ( some say just go to AP in 12th but im not so sure)
- AP Gov
- This last hour im thinking of doing CO-OP which is school-work. I will get employed and it will count as credit. Plus it will be in hospital since im going into medical field. But i have a feeling that school and work will put me under too much pressure. I need to do some ECs as well. So for you who are experienced or want to help, please do.</p>
<p>i just copy pasted this from another post but please give me some advice.</p>
<p>ok it depends. if your school requires honors physics as a prereq for ap physics b, then i would strongly suggest against it no matter how much of a genius you are. the only exception to that would be if you took a bunch of easy classes and had a significant amount of time to dedicate to physics studies. however, if honors physics is not a prereq, then definitely go ahead.</p>
<p>i say this because thats what exactly happened to me. i didn't want to destroy my gpa so i took ap physics b w/o honors and it was a living hell. our teacher was a very lenient guy (ie. we had like 2 tests the entire last semester) so i miraculously ended up with an A, but if you're into learning for learnings sake then its definitely a bad idea b/c i had no idea what was going on in that class.</p>
<p>Our school does not require phyics for AP so according to you i should take it?
can you explain how that works; i did not comprehend exactly what you said.</p>
<p>yes then definitely go to take the AP.
i was just saying that its a bad idea to not take honors if your school requires honors as a prerequisite to the AP class.</p>
<p>can someone talk about how some colleges don't accept APB?</p>
<p>Some colleges (especially the top schools) are reluctant to accept APB because a first year physics course in college is almost always calculus based. I don't think UChicago accepts physics B. Cornell does I think. MIT will give you credit if you get 5's on physics B and calc BC.</p>